The Agora is a podcast created by the team behind MacroPolis. It’s a political and economic analysis website based in Athens.
In this podcast series, we examine political, economic and social developments in Greece. But our podcasts will also look at what’s happening in the world around us.
We provide listeners with insight from our own experts and analysis from special guests.
If you enjoy intelligent, lively discussion and want the bigger picture, join us for a stroll through the Agora.
To get an idea of the kind of insight we provide, check out The Agora blog, which has being going strong since 2013.
Our theme music is a track called Straight Line Blues and has been kindly provided by the Burgundy Grapes.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Agora is a podcast created by the team behind MacroPolis. It’s a political and economic analysis website based in Athens.
In this podcast series, we examine political, economic and social developments in Greece. But our podcasts will also look at what’s happening in the world around us.
We provide listeners with insight from our own experts and analysis from special guests.
If you enjoy intelligent, lively discussion and want the bigger picture, join us for a stroll through the Agora.
To get an idea of the kind of insight we provide, check out The Agora blog, which has being going strong since 2013.
Our theme music is a track called Straight Line Blues and has been kindly provided by the Burgundy Grapes.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Greece's new political season is underway and it promises to be full of twists and turns as the ruling New Democracy party tries to perform a course correction to get on track for a decisive third straight election victory.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis got the ball rolling this month by announcing a package of significant tax cuts, mostly aimed at helping Greek households cope with ongoing cost-of-living challenges.
Mitsotakis is hoping that the reductions will help rebuild his government's damaged relationship with voters, keep the opposition parties at bay and put the ruling centre-right party on a trajectory that would secure it another parliamentary majority in the next elections, which are due in 2027.
MacroPolis co-founder Yiannis Mouzakis and features editor Georgia Nakou join host Nick Malkoutzis in The Agora to discuss the economic and political implications of the Greek PM's announcements.
Useful reading
Greek Premier Offers €1.6 Billion Tax Cuts to Spur Middle Class - Bloomberg
Greek PM unveils tax breaks amid cost of living crisis - Reuters
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Anyone hoping for a calm summer in Greece just had their hopes dashed. A political storm is engulfing Athens, with four government officials already ousted amid a deepening scandal tied to the misuse of EU agricultural funds.
At the heart of the storm is OPEKEPE—the Payment and Control Agency for Guidance and Guarantee Community Aid. An explosive investigation by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) has uncovered what appears to be sweeping fraud in how EU subsidies were handled. Some experts warn the financial fallout could stretch into the hundreds of millions of euros.
The EPPO has handed over its finding, based in part on legally sanctioned surveillance, to the Greek Parliament. Lawmakers now face a critical decision: whether to lift the parliamentary immunity of more than a dozen politicians named in the case so formal charges can be brought.
Among those implicated are former agricultural development ministers Makis Voridis and Lefteris Avgenakis. Voridis, who had most recently served as migration minister, resigned on June 27, while firmly denying any wrongdoing. Three deputy ministers also stepped down.
This latest crisis couldn’t come at a worse time for Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Still reeling from the public backlash earlier this year over his administration’s handling of the Tempe train disaster, he now finds himself back on the defensive.
So what does this mean for the future of the Mitsotakis government, and for Greek politics as a whole? Could this be the spark that sets off snap elections?
To dig into the implications of Greece’s newest political convulsion, The Agora welcomed MacroPolis co-founder Yiannis Mouzakis and features editor Georgia Nakou for a deep dive into what may be a defining moment for the summer, and beyond.
Useful reading
The big fat Greek plot to defraud the EU – Politico
Prosecutor implicates two Greek ministers in huge EU farm fraud – Politico
EU funds way to get fickle farmers’ vote – Kathimerini
OPEKEPE: The scandal that keeps on giving – Kathimerini
OPEKEPE: The bowl with honey – Inside Story
The country that watched the goats go by – Inside Story
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
As the world mulls the impact and consequences of the tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump on so-called "liberation day", Greece has a very specific concern.
The focus of the tariff-related debate in Greece was very much on the fate of feta, Greece's most popular cheese and one of its main agricultural exports to the US and many other parts of the world.
What is feta? Why does it hold such a special place in Greek culture? And, why is Greece so keen to protect this particular product?
To answer all these questions, we invited Thomas Ntinas to join us in The Agora. Thomas is our show's producer, but he joins us in his capacity as the host of The Delicious Legacy, which is an archaeogastronomical podcast that travels through time to discover recipes and traditions from the past, but also to examine the sociopolitical and economic aspects of food and gastronomy.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Two years after Greece's deadliest rail disaster, the political fallout is escalating rather than abating.
The largest protests Greece has seen in decades were held on February 28 to mark the two-year anniversary of the crash, in which 57 people died when a passenger train collided with a freight train in Tempe, central Greece.
The growing public outcry over how the aftermath of the crash has been handled, as well as the shocking circumstances of the accident itself, has put Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his government under intense pressure.
Mitsotakis survived a confidence vote in parliament on March 7, but the Tempe issue is likely to haunt his government for the rest of its second term.
MacroPolis co-founder Yiannis Mouzakis and features editor Georgia Nakou joined The Agora to discuss the political implications of the latest developments.
Useful reading
Tempe Accident Investigation Report - EODASAAM
Two years later, outrage over Tempe disaster hits a tipping point - Kathimerini
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The return of Donald Trump to the White House seems to be causing a reordering of international relations, an end to many of the certainties we had in geopolitics.
This has left Europe facing a major re-think of its stance on security and defence issues. To discuss what changes are taking place and what it means for Europe, including Greece, Dr Jens Bastian joined us in The Agora.
Jens is a Senior Policy Adviser at the Hellenic Foundation of European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP). He is, among other things, an expert on EU-China relations, and has recently been working as a research fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) in Berlin
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On the latest episode of The Agora we look at what the return of Donald Trump to the White House could mean for Greece.
Host Nick Malkoutzis speaks to Macropolis foreign policy analyst Alexandra Voudouri about the concerns and hopes Greek diplomats have concerning the Trump presidency and its impact on geopolitics.
Our second guest, Frank De Mita, who has worked on several US presidential campaigns, discusses some of the lessons mainstream parties in Greece can take from the Democrats' defeat in the US and the way that political communication is changing.
Useful reading
Post-election blamestorming or Why Harris lost and the Democrats should nominate Oprah - Frank De Mita
Who is Kimberly Guilfoyle, Trump's pick for US ambassador to Greece? - BBC News
What Will a Second Trump Presidency Mean For Greece? - To Vima
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Costas Simitis, who served as Greece's prime minister between 1996 and 2004, died at the age of 88 on January 5. He left behind a bountiful legacy, which included Greece's entry into the euro and a raft of infrastructure projects.
His record, though, is contested by some Greeks who feel that the seeds of future problems were sown during his period in office.
On this episode of The Agora, host Nick Malkoutzis discusses Simitis's contribution and record with Kathimerini columnist Nikos Konstandaras.
Useful links
Costas Simitis, former Greek prime minister and socialist leader, dies at 88 - Associated Press
Costas Simitis and the measure of things - Kathimerini
‘This is Greece!,’ Costas Simitis’ rallying cry - Kathimerini
Greece Recalls Former PM Simitis as Architect of Country’s Modernisation - BIRN
Imia, behind the scenes - Kathimerini
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Greek Parliament is about to vote on the 2025 budget, so The Agora is looking at what the government's economic plan entails, while also examining the bigger picture as far as the country's economy is concerned.
MacroPolis co-founder Yiannis Mouzakis joins us to explain why there has been so much attention on the revenue side of the budget. He also identifies where the key strengths and weaknesses of the Greek economy lie as we prepare for a year that seems full of uncertainty.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
SYRIZA, the leftist party that experienced a stunning rise to power from the fringes of Greek politics, has elected a new leader but will it be enough to rescue it from its slide back to the sidelines?
Its former leader, nascent politician Stefanos Kasselakis, has hit back by launching his own party, Movement for Democracy. Will he have any impact or is it all show?
These are some of the questions host Nick Malkoutzis attempts to answer with the help of MacroPolis co-founder Yiannis Mouzakis and features editor Georgia Nakou.
Useful reading
Greece’s wounded left elects new chief - Euractiv
Assessing Greece’s new political landscape - Ekathimerini
Greek politics goes from stability to state of flux - MacroPolis
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In mid-November, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis decided to expel from the ruling New Democracy party one of his predecessors, Antonis Samaras.
Samaras headed the centre-right party for several years and was the leader of a coalition government between 2012 and 2015, which means his dismissal was big news in Greece.
So, why did Mitsotakis make this dramatic move and what it could mean not only for unity within New Democracy, but also for the stability of the Greek government?
MacroPolis co-founder Yiannis Mouzakis and features editor Georgia Nakou joined Nick Malkoutzis to discuss all the permutations.
Useful reading
Former Greek premier Samaras is expelled from the ruling conservative party - Associated Press
Turkey rapprochement sparks rift in Greece’s ruling party - Politico
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nikos Androulakis has been re-elected as leader of PASOK, the centre-left party that is hoping to establish itself as the main opposition party in Greece and, ultimately, challenge centre-right New Democracy for power.
Given that Androulakis cruised to his victory, was there any point to this leadership contest? Also, where does it leave PASOK as it seeks to take advantage of turmoil at leftist SYRIZA and build some momentum as the social democrats seek to close the gap on Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis?
MacroPolis co-founder Yiannis Mouzakis and features editor Georgia Nakou join host Nick Malkoutzis to work out what has happened and what might happen.
Useful reading
Androulakis Wins Second Chance to Revive Greece’s Centre-Left Party - Balkan Insight
Androulakis’ last chance - Kathimerini
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Agora hosts a discussion on how Europe, and Greece specifically, have been handling the green transition, addressing questions like how the pivot away from natural gas is going.
The basis for our discussion is three articles written by MacroPolis features editor Georgia Nakou, and senior policy analyst and partner at The Green Tank, an Athens-based think-tank, Nikos Mantzaris.
The articles were published in English by MacroPolis, and in Greek by Inside Story. They were produced with the support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Athens as part of a climate journalism project.
Useful links
Is Greece on track to decouple from fossil gas? - By Nikos Mantzaris
Can the Green Transition be just? - By Nikos Mantzaris
From pipe dreams to power cables: the changing map of Greece's energy ambitions - By Georgia Nakou
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The European Parliament elections held in Greece on June 9 produced a few surprises, some of which could be significant for the country's political scene over the next few months and years.
The ruling centre-right party, New Democracy, performed worse than opinion polls had suggested and fell below the bar set by its leader, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The main opposition parties, leftist SYRIZA and socialist PASOK, had mixed nights but failed to make any major progress, raising questions about what the future holds for the Greek centre-left.
The far right appeared to be the major beneficiary of the voting patterns in these elections, but a closer inspection of the numbers tells a more complicated story.
MacroPolis co-founder Yiannis Mouzakis and features editor Georgia Nakou step into The Agora to discuss the twists and turns produced by this vote, which was marked by a record low turnout.
Useful reading
Greece’s centre-right wins but with heavy losses - Euractiv
Greek PM hints at cabinet reshuffle after EU vote disappointment - Reuters
Where did all the far-right votes in the EU, but also in Greece, come from? - Kathimerini
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Greece is preparing to welcome a record number of tourists again this year, but their visits will take place against a backdrop of growing concern among locals about the damage being done to the islands and their way of life by rapid development.
Greek policy makers face a dilemma over how to balance the growth and job creation provided by tourism, a vital industry for the local economy, against the fear that going down this path too fast and too far is ultimately unsustainable.
Journalist Yannis Palaiologos joins us on The Agora to discuss these issues. Yannis is part of the team behind the Sustainable Cyclades media project, which has been reporting on the impact that overtourism and development has been having on the Aegean islands and their residents.
Useful reading
Local Greeks pushed out as mass tourism takes over Athens - France 24
'Without rules we cannot live’: Greece seeks ways to tackle ‘overtourism’ - Al Jazeera
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
After going through a really difficult time during the country’s long economic crisis, the Greek property market is booming, but that's creating a whole new set of problems.
High rental and purchase prices are pricing out much of the local population as foreign investors snap up apartments and entire buildings in pursuit of profits.
Host Nick Malkoutzis is joined by Stelios Bouras, a journalist who covers real estate and other economic issues for the Business Daily, to discuss a range of issues linked to the new conditions in the housing market - rising prices, a revival of construction and the much-debated Golden Visa scheme.
Useful reading
Inside one of Europe’s last golden visa programmes and what’s set to change - EuroNews
Local Greeks pushed out as mass tourism takes over Athens - France24
What is driving the Greek housing market's recovery? - MacroPolis
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In the wake of the Covid pandemic, the European Union launched the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) - a package of around 700 billion euros to help member states recover from the economic impact and build for the future.
Greece's portion of these funds is considered vital for the country's efforts to overcome the effects of its long economic crisis, as well as the disruption caused by the pandemic.
The Greek government dubbed its RRF-related scheme "Greece 2.0", claiming it would help transform the country.
A couple of years in, how is Greece 2.0 performing? Has it had a transformative effect? How much money is Greece absorbing and where is it being invested?
These are some of the questions that Nick Malkoutzis and MacroPolis features editor Georgia Nakou attempt to answer in this episode.
Useful Reading
MacroPolis - Great Expectations: Is Greece 2.0 hitting the target?
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Phoebe and Nick are back to examine the contrasting images of Greece abroad and how they sit side by side.
A few months ago, rating agencies started to restore the investment grade for Greece's sovereign debt - more than a decade after it was lost. It was a reflection of the growing confidence that markets have in the political situation, the government's policy choices and the country's prospects.
However, while this has been happening, there has been growing concern about the rule of law and effectiveness of justice in Greece. There have been several debates about these issues in the European Parliament, while rights groups have also raised the alarm.
The Agora spoke to Wolfango Piccoli, co-president of political risk advisory at Teneo, to discuss why investors feel they can trust Greece again and how this renewed faith can sit alongside the complaints about transparency and accountability.
Useful links
Greece is investment grade again – why it matters to keep it - ESM
Parliament concerned about very serious threats to EU values in Greece - European Parliament press release
2023 Rule of Law Report - European Commission
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In February 2023, a freight train and a train carrying dozens of passengers crashed in Tempe, central Greece, killing 57 people. A year on from Greece's deadliest train accident, many questions remain unanswered and doubts are growing about whether the truth will ever come to light regarding what caused the disaster.
Opposition parties and relatives of the victims, many of whom were university students, feel that the Greek authorities are preventing a proper investigation into the incident, while also dodging their responsibility.
In fact, an opinion poll (Alco) published just after this episode was recorded indicated that 77 pct of Greeks feel there is a cover-up going on, while just 11 pct think there is no question of political responsibility.
Phoebe and Nick summarise what we know about the accident and its aftermath, while Nektaria Stamouli, Politico's Eastern Mediterranean correspondent and Kathimerini English Edition deputy editor, joins us on The Agora to discuss why there are such strong concerns about a cover-up and what implications this has.
Useful links
Trauma (audio documentary) - IMEdD
Greece rejected EU prosecutor’s call for action against 2 ex-ministers after rail crash - Politico
A year after Greece’s worst train disaster, railway safety fears persist - Reuters
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Five years ago SYRIZA was in power in Greece, but it is currently languishing in third place in the opinion polls and the nascent leadership of Stefanos Kasselakis is being constantly buffeted by internal disputes.
In this episode, Phoebe Fronista and Nick Malkoutzis set out how the left-wing party ended up in this uncomfortable position. Nick also speaks to MacroPolis co-founder Yiannis Mouzakis and features editor Georgia Nakou about Kasselakis's unusual approach and the recent stormy party conference, which almost resulted in another leadership contest.
Useful links
Kassalekis goes from blank canvas to empty vessel, blowing open progressive space - MacroPolis
The modern left for progressive governance - LSE Hellenic Observatory
Greece’s New Political Star Is a TikTok Creation - Wired
He’s Gone From Miami, to Celebrity, to Upending Greek Politics - New York Times
Greece’s main opposition party cracks up some more - Politico
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Phoebe Fronista and Nick Malkoutzis return after a prolonged absence to discuss what's behind Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis's political dominance in Greece and whether things are more complex than they look.
Their discussion was prompted by a piece Nick wrote recently for The Agora on MacroPolis's website after listening to Mitsotakis speak at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where the Greek PM shed light on the political strategy that has helped his centre-right New Democracy party comfortably see off its opponents.
As Nick and Phoebe discuss, this success cannot be separated from the Greek context because serious problems with the opposition, media and institutions have provided Mitsotakis with considerable assistance.
Useful reading
Rule of Law and Media Freedom in Greece - European Parliament
Stemming the Tide of Greek Media Freedom Decline - MFRR
Corruption Perceptions Index (Greece) - Transparency International
A Greek form of Triangulation - MacroPolis
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
